In a bit of a contradictory appearance before the media post-practice Thursday, New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon conceded that physicians determined there is some damage causing the pain in his right knee, though Gordon said initially there was no structural compromise.

New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon watches from the bench during the game between the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, October 31, 2012. Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Gordon admitted he experienced a setback at some point between the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team trials and the time he reported for training camp Oct. 1, which has prevented him from participating in any of the Hornets' preseason schedule.

"I'd say sorta," Gordon said. "From talking to the doctors, from when I last told you guys in September until now, I have had a little bit of a setback as far as this injury. Nothing structural, but it has been a little bit of soreness and swelling to where I'm only listening to the doctors and they can see and tell that it's been a little damage.

"I've had MRIs, and I went to the team and they've always been aware of my injury. I have had MRIs lately, so I'm looking forward to seeing what's happening this weekend to see what's furthermore. ... I will hear what the doctor's thinking this weekend."

Responding to a question of whether the latest MRI indicated damage, Gordon said: "That's the reason why I'm not playing. The past three days I've been practicing because I thought it would be something I might have to deal with pain-wise. I went to the organization the other day and told them 'This is not feeling too good. It's very painful.' We went and got another MRI."

Asked his confidence level that he'd be on the court at some point in the near future, Gordon sounded apprehensive.

"It'll all be decided on by this weekend," Gordon said. "There's no timetable. I don't know that yet."

Was there any part of him, he was asked, that felt he might miss the entire season?

Is there ligament or cartilage damage in the knee, Gordon was asked again.

"There's damage," he said. "I'll figure (it) out this weekend."

In July, the Hornets matched the max-money, four-year, $58 million offer to which Gordon had agreed to with the Phoenix Suns.

Soreness in Gordon's right knee last season caused him to miss all but nine games of the lockout-shortened 66-game season. He underwent arthroscopic surgery Feb. 14 where surgeons cleaned out loose cartilage particles. He played in seven games at the end of the season after rehabilitating from that procedure.

Gordon aimed at a shot on the Olympic Team and practiced twice in Las Vegas with Team USA. He did not make the final roster.

He said he and doctors came to a joint decision to curtail his on-court activities to rehab work.

"It's both sides; me it's too painful, and from the doctors' standpoint, they can tell," Gordon said.

Asked again specifically about damage, Gordon said: "There's damage. I just have to figure (it) out this weekend."

Over the summer, Gordon expressed his desire to sign with the Suns, releasing a statement through his agent at the time of the agreement with the Suns that "my heart is in Phoenix."

In Las Vegas he said he would be disappointed if the Hornets matched the offer sheet.

On Thursday, before taking questions, Gordon extemporaneously pronounced his love for the city and the Hornets' organization while acknowledging fans' irritation and expressing his frustration at his inability to see any action.

"First off I just want to say it's an honor and privilege to be part of this organization as a player. I know things haven't been going as well as far as being injured since I've been here. I have had (a) reoccurring knee injury since I've been here and it's just tough as a player to go through these things. You're looking for the best for yourself and to even look forward to see what's best for the team.

"I look forward as a player to helping this franchise and I always look forward to the best to help this team win. And it has been frustrating. Very frustrating as a player not to do your job every day. I only played nine games last year and I haven't played a game this year. I haven't played any preseason games. So it's been very frustrating watching the guys play and me not being a part of it. I know from the fans perspective, it's frustrating for them. But for a player, it's most frustrating for me and this organization. I wanted to put it out there. I know it's tough. But it's almost all on me. This is an injury I'm battling with. It's just a tough time right now for me, and I'm just going through it.

"This is a great city and a great organization and I definitely want to be a part of it. But being a part of it, for me, is about playing. What's (keeping) me from playing is having this injury. I'll just go on from there."

Before meeting with the media, Gordon sat on a courtside chair with what appeared to be an electronic stimulating device strapped around his right knee.

Hornets Coach Monty Williams said Wednesday he could offer no additional information on Gordon's health or a timeframe for his return.

"Right now he's in the mode of rehabbing and trying to get his knee where he feels comfortable," Williams said. "He's working with our medical staff, which I think is phenomenal. They've worked on my knee and even though I can't play, I feel really good.

"But it's one of those situations that I don't have a lot of information because I only get enough to know that he's not playing. That's pretty much all I want most days. Obviously, there's something he's not comfortable with and the doctors may feel the same way. So he's probably going to see a number of doctors to make sure that there's nothing that's going to cause him further damage."